Boston-based rock group EXTREME is set to return in the spring of 2008
with its first album of all new material in 13 years. The band
features original members Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Gary Cherone
(vocals) and Pat Badger (bass), along with new drummer Kevin
Figueiredo.
In the coming weeks, EXTREME will announce its plans for a world tour
in 2008 as well as a release date and label for the as-yet-untitled
album, which is being produced by Bettencourt. The guitarist says: “It
will have all the ingredients of an EXTREME record. The music is
always funkier than most rock bands — and born a bipolar bastard child
of Mr. Zeppelin and Mrs. Beatles.”
EXTREME has been introduced to a new generation of music fans who are
connecting with the band through MySpace as a result of the inclusion
of their song “Play With Me” on 2007’s Guitar Hero video game. Outside
of EXTREME, Cherone joined VAN HALEN as lead singer in 1998, co-
writing the “Van Halen III” album and touring the world with them.
Bettencourt joined up with JANE’S ADDICTION frontman Perry Farrell to
form the band SATELLITE PARTY and co-produce their album, “Ultra
Payloaded”. SATELLITE PARTY also featured drummer Kevin Figuieredo,
who was previously in a band with Bettencourt called DRAMAGODS.
Through the years, Bettencourt and Cherone have remained close and
continued to collaborate on occasion. But what exactly inspired them
to rejoin forces as EXTREME?
“Rock and roll famine…I know it might sound crazy, but there is a
massive shortage of rock and roll on this planet,” says Bettencourt.
“It’s almost extinct. I mean the true spirit of quality rock and roll
– you know, musicianship, when you would give up every moment of your
day to master your instrument and create your own identity and sound
so as to respectfully outdo all your past heroes whilst proudly
wearing the badge of their influences.”
“Passion,” says Bettencourt, is what drives EXTREME. “To do whatever
it takes, with integrity, to bring music to the people, not because of
fame…but just cause you simply couldn’t wait to share it with them.”
“We realized,” adds Bettencourt, “not only are the people starved for
rock and roll…So are we. Let’s eat.”
Preliminary listen to the new Brad Paisley album ‘5th Gear’ gets it 5 branded cows. (This is a good good thing.)
Ain’t nothing wrong with ‘Ticks’ either, despite the comment below.
This bloke has no end of great tones, not to mention unbelievable chops.
Like his friend Vince Gill, Brad Paisley has achieved the often-difficult feat of reconciling being an entertainer and world-class guitarist. He’s proven that on four admirable albums, and 5th Gear follows in that vein. Certainly “Ticks,” an airy, radio-friendly ditty, is not the true substance here. That comes with such superior fare as the insightful “All I Wanted Was a Car” and “Online,” a sly satire of people’s Web facades. While his duet with Carrie Underwood (”Oh Love”) is a bit cut and dried, Paisley ably handles “Letter to Me,” “It Did,” and “Mr. Policeman,” a 21st-century outrun-the-law tune. The closing hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven,” and ripping instrumental “Throttleneck” are Paisley at his best. It’s admirable that he invites his venerable buddies, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, Vince Gill, and Bill Anderson, along with Dolly Parton, to join in, but the obligatory “Kung Pao Buckaroos” skit is wearing a bit thin. Better to feature them musically, the way he includes Dickens, Gill, and Anderson on “Bigger Fish to Fry.” In a time where lines between county and pop are blurring far too much, it’s comforting to know Paisley still realizes and respects the differences.
Headed out with Tim today to do the rounds of a few places.
First up we headed over to the healthfood shop near work, to have a look at the protein powders they offer.
We’d just walked in and started to look at them, and we got talking to this other bloke who was there, who turned out to be the state manager of Vital Strength.
Most illuminating discussion for about 30-40 minutes. Suggested different powders for Tim and myself, based on our differing goals. (ie Tim wants to add (muscle) bulk, I want to lose fat.) It’s also the stuff that our gym sells - and Andrew isn’t going to use anything that isn’t good.
Problem is, their stuff is a bit expensive. Although it’s cheaper online, but still not as cheap as ON or Dymatize.
Ah well. We shall see. He’s giving me a call, so I’ll see what I can find out.
OK, he rang, but the basic story is that if I can get it cheaper online, I should. And as I can get it significantly cheaper online, I will. (Our purchase price is below the WA wholesale, I believe.)
But having talked to Adrian and Tim, we’re all happy to pay a little bit extra and get the Aussie-made stuff, which is put together under our guidelines and regulations, rather than the very slack US regs. We’ll probably try some of the other stuff a little further down the line, though - they’ve got different flavours, which is going to become important, I think…
Also went to a couple of tattoo parlours - an interesting experience, not having been in any before. Tim has a few tats, and wants to get one covered with another design. I reckon it’s really cool that we’ve got a tatt-boy working at Sonshine - blows up a few stereotypes!
And then to the Drum Shop. Tim is a drummer, and I used to be one, (many years ago), so it was quite interesting. They’ve got a nice setup in there, including a projector running learning DVDs, which makes the instructor about lifesize, which is pretty cool.
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But it works. Shania Twain and Dolly Parton doing “Coat of many Colours”.
This is ace.
Boston-based rock group EXTREME is set to return in the spring of 2008
with its first album of all new material in 13 years. The band
features original members Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Gary Cherone
(vocals) and Pat Badger (bass), along with new drummer Kevin
Figueiredo.
In the coming weeks, EXTREME will announce its plans for a world tour
in 2008 as well as a release date and label for the as-yet-untitled
album, which is being produced by Bettencourt. The guitarist says: “It
will have all the ingredients of an EXTREME record. The music is
always funkier than most rock bands — and born a bipolar bastard child
of Mr. Zeppelin and Mrs. Beatles.”
EXTREME has been introduced to a new generation of music fans who are
connecting with the band through MySpace as a result of the inclusion
of their song “Play With Me” on 2007’s Guitar Hero video game. Outside
of EXTREME, Cherone joined VAN HALEN as lead singer in 1998, co-
writing the “Van Halen III” album and touring the world with them.
Bettencourt joined up with JANE’S ADDICTION frontman Perry Farrell to
form the band SATELLITE PARTY and co-produce their album, “Ultra
Payloaded”. SATELLITE PARTY also featured drummer Kevin Figuieredo,
who was previously in a band with Bettencourt called DRAMAGODS.
Through the years, Bettencourt and Cherone have remained close and
continued to collaborate on occasion. But what exactly inspired them
to rejoin forces as EXTREME?
“Rock and roll famine…I know it might sound crazy, but there is a
massive shortage of rock and roll on this planet,” says Bettencourt.
“It’s almost extinct. I mean the true spirit of quality rock and roll
– you know, musicianship, when you would give up every moment of your
day to master your instrument and create your own identity and sound
so as to respectfully outdo all your past heroes whilst proudly
wearing the badge of their influences.”
“Passion,” says Bettencourt, is what drives EXTREME. “To do whatever
it takes, with integrity, to bring music to the people, not because of
fame…but just cause you simply couldn’t wait to share it with them.”
“We realized,” adds Bettencourt, “not only are the people starved for
rock and roll…So are we. Let’s eat.”
From a post about “The Joshua Tree”: ‘Bono’s powerful lyrics are cemented by the virtouoso (sic) guitar playing of The Edge throughout the album’…
Now, you might like The Edge, and I like the early stuff a lot. But ‘virtuoso’? Turn it up.
The old days, indeed
Preliminary listen to the new Brad Paisley album ‘5th Gear’ gets it 5 branded cows. (This is a good good thing.)
Ain’t nothing wrong with ‘Ticks’ either, despite the comment below.
This bloke has no end of great tones, not to mention unbelievable chops.
Headed out with Tim today to do the rounds of a few places.
First up we headed over to the healthfood shop near work, to have a look at the protein powders they offer.
We’d just walked in and started to look at them, and we got talking to this other bloke who was there, who turned out to be the state manager of Vital Strength.
Most illuminating discussion for about 30-40 minutes. Suggested different powders for Tim and myself, based on our differing goals. (ie Tim wants to add (muscle) bulk, I want to lose fat.) It’s also the stuff that our gym sells - and Andrew isn’t going to use anything that isn’t good.
Problem is, their stuff is a bit expensive. Although it’s cheaper online, but still not as cheap as ON or Dymatize.
Ah well. We shall see. He’s giving me a call, so I’ll see what I can find out.
OK, he rang, but the basic story is that if I can get it cheaper online, I should. And as I can get it significantly cheaper online, I will. (Our purchase price is below the WA wholesale, I believe.)
But having talked to Adrian and Tim, we’re all happy to pay a little bit extra and get the Aussie-made stuff, which is put together under our guidelines and regulations, rather than the very slack US regs. We’ll probably try some of the other stuff a little further down the line, though - they’ve got different flavours, which is going to become important, I think…
Also went to a couple of tattoo parlours - an interesting experience, not having been in any before. Tim has a few tats, and wants to get one covered with another design. I reckon it’s really cool that we’ve got a tatt-boy working at Sonshine - blows up a few stereotypes!
And then to the Drum Shop. Tim is a drummer, and I used to be one, (many years ago), so it was quite interesting. They’ve got a nice setup in there, including a projector running learning DVDs, which makes the instructor about lifesize, which is pretty cool.
An interesting day, to be sure!